Hinge bearing of disconnect switch



March 30, 1954 G, HEBERLEIN 2,673,904

HINGE BEARING 0F DISCONNECT SWITCH Filed Dec. 5, 1951 3 Sheets-sheet 1 IN VENTOR.

March 30, 1954 HEBERLEW 2,673,904

HINGE BEARING OF DISCONNECT SWITCH Filed Dec. 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 'asrnue f. flare-cw Filed Dec. 5, 1951 March 1954 G. E. HEBERLEIN 2,673,904

HINGE BEARING OF DISCONNECT SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 30, 1954 HINGE BEARING OF DISGONNECT SWITCH Gustave E. Heberlein, Bryn Mawr,

Pa., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 5, 1951, Serial No. 253,917

Claims. 1

My present invention relates to hinge bearings of disconnect switches and more particularly to hinge bearings adapted to carry current between the frame and the hinge casting of disconnect switches of the type shown in application Serial No, 145,389 filed February 21, 1950.

In many prior constructions, it was thought necessary that a flexible shunt be placed between the fixed terminal and the movable contact arm. This movable flexible shunt was thought to be essential to ensure that a good path be available for the current flowing from the contact arm to the ground terminal.

This required weatherproofing or other types of protection, but when this weatherproofing was incompletely done, it sometimes happened that the shunt tended to corrode, crystallize and break.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a simplified current carrying element between a fixed terminal and a movable contact arm of a disconnect switch so that there be no need for flexible connecting elements.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means whereby threaded pins are clamped to the hinge casting so that the current may efiiciently flow from the hinge castin through the hinge pin to the frame casting.

Another object of my invention is the provision of contact arms of spring-like contacting metals to act as current paths between the hinge pins and the frame casting and to maintain appropriate contact pressure.

A further object of my invention is the placement of said movable current carrying connections in a fully weatherproofed and fully protected housing.

Another object of my invention is a contact carrying member which is readily inspectable or dismantleable to permit inspection.

These and many other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent in the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the disconnect switch incorporating this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of this invention showing the clamped threaded pin and spring tension arms.

Figure 3 is a plan view of this invention.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of this invention showing the various members of this invention.

Figure 5 is a vertical section of a modified version of this invention showing a heavy compression spring for producing a. high pressure electrical contact.

Figure 6a is a schematic cross section showing the contact engagement achieved in the modified version or the hinge bearing.

Figure 1s a schematic view of an annular contact showing the similarity in principle between the threaded hinge contact of Figure 6a and the annular contact.

Referring now to Figure 1, I have here shown a disconnect oi the type disclosed in application Serial No. 145,389 filed February 21, 1950 in which the disconnect switch It is mounted on the base i l which is a suitable longitudinal structural support, in this case shown horizontally arranged for a horizontally or upright mounted disconnect switch.

The base I I has secured thereto in any suitable manner as by the insulator spacers l2 and 13 the stationary upright supporting posts I4, I?) on the upper portions of which are mounted insulators Base II is also provided with the bearing 2i] appropriately secured thereto in any suitable manner as by the bolts 2! and carrying the rotatable vertical shaft 22 to the upper end of which is keyed the insulator 23 for rotation with the vertical shaft or post 22.

Below insulator 23 there is keyed to the shaft 22 the crank 3c secured thereto in any suitable manner as by the bolts 3| connected to the flange or crank plate 32. Bolts 2i which secure the bearing 20 in position also secure the stop plate 34 in position, the stop plate being provided at opposite ends with the adjustable stops 31 which engage at either end with the stop 38 on the operating crank 30.

While stops 3? are herein provided, the construction and operation of my novel switch is such that it may operate properly without the stops at individual poles; in such case, the stops would be provided at the operating means for the entire switch.

Where stops are eliminated at all points, then the switch may be operated by crank 30 to close and then open by a single continuous movement in one direction to establish a contact momentarily and then break it.

Shaft 22a extends above the insulator 23 as effectively a continuation of vertical shaft 22 being, however, spaced therefrom by insulator 23. Crank 40 at the upper end of shaft 22a is preferably integral therewith and, therefore, rotates therewith.

Crank 46 extends horizontally or at least parallel with the base supporting structure H and rotates in the horizontal plane. Crank 4!! is shown herein as tubular although itmay have any desired cross-section consistent with the mechanical loads imposed thereon. The outer end of crank 40 is flattened at 4| and is provided with a circular opening 42 through which pin 43 may pass.

A clevis member 44 receives extension 4|, connection being made by pin 42. Clevis 44 is integral with the'threaded extension 50 which enters into the tapped opening in the forked link 52.

The threaded extension 50 is so arranged that as" the threaded extension 50 rotates with respect to the forked link 52 and its tapped opening 5|, it has linear movement with respect thereto:

Forked link 52 has a pair of arms 54 at the'ends' opposite the tapped opening 5| which are secured to the blade crank 6| of sleeve casting 82 by pin 60a. The blade support sleeve casting GZ-carries the tubular switch blade 03 secured therein and rotatable therewith.

The outer end of the tubular switch blade is "flattened at "64 (Figure 1) and is-provided with appropriate contacts Biengageable with the stationary contact jaws 66. The blade support sleeve casting'EZis mounted for rotation around its longitudinal axis on an extension of thehinge casting I0. The hinge casting 'I0 is inturn rotatably *mounted by the hinge bearings indicated gener- 'ally at" on the forked frame casting '13.

The'p'articularhingebearing utilized for this purpose at this point constitutes the essence of "thepresent invention and will be discussed in detail below.

The frame'casting 13 has a horizontal section 14 secured in any suitable manner "as by the bolts I5 to the topof insulator I6. The sides 3 "extend back tothe'solid portion TI which is provided with'an opening" (not shown) appropriately recessed to forma bearing for crank-40 and its shaft.

The solid portion '11 of the base'casting 62 i 'then'extends beyond to formthe terminal-80 to which'appropriate'leads may be connected.

The'stationary contact'fifi comprises the plurality of contact blades=90, 9| oneach side biased toward each other by thespring support members '92,*9?rand so arrangedthat when'the blade 65 "enters at an angle'to the horizontalposition during the closing operation, it will'clear the blades '90 on each side.

These' contactmembersareso arranged, howeverythat when the blade-is rotatedfrom-the open-to the closed position, the blade 65in turning to the horizontal position will spread the contacts 90 and 9| on each side against theten- "sion of springs "92 and 93,- creating I the desired contact pressure.

The spring-blades 92, 93-are current conducting and are connected in-any suitable manner as 'by the bolts 98 to the base plate 99, whichin turn is mounted in any suitable manner as by' bolts200 at the top of insulator IT. The base 99 'of stationary contact structure 66 has an extension I which serves as aterminalblock or connecting member.

Thus, when the disconnect switch is 'in the closed position of Figure 1, current enters the terminal 80, passes through the frame casting I3 to the hinge bearing 12, then through the" current carrying connection in thehinge bearing 12 tothe hinge casting I0,from the hinge casting I0 to the contact valve 63, then through the contact 65 on the contact blade to the stationary contact elements 90, 9| and then through'the base 09 to theterminal extension 20I.

The particularhinge' bearing utilized forthis adjacent its free- 4 purpose at this point constitutes the essence of the present invention. This hinge bearing which constitutes the current carrying connection between the frame and the hinge casting for the tubular blade 63 is shown specifically in the crosssectional view of Figure 2, the side view of Figure 3 and the exploded view of Figure 4.

Referring, therefore, to these "figures, the legs I6 of the frame I3 are each provided with a substantially circular thickened area I00 at the upper right-hand corner of each thereof.

Each of the thickened reinforced areas I00 is provided with a transverse bore I0| constituting a-hin'g'e'plnbearing for purposes hereinafter deopenings and '-tightened in place-by the nut-I22 or any appropriate arrangement of lock-nuts, thereby clamping thelugs ||3- and Il4-together and diminishing 'the size of the main threaded opening II2 on each arm IIO.

-In assembling thehinge castingon the frame "I3,-the arms |I0 of the hinge casting are aligned with sections IS-of theframe n' so that openings I12 on each side of 'the armsI I'0are a1igned-with the smooth bore openings IN.

The hinge pin I on each side is" then passed through opening H2 and when'the threads'IBl of hinge pin"|*30-'engage threads of opening II2,

the hinge pin I30 is rotated further through opening I|2 until the hinge pin I30 passes through opening I-IJ'I and projects 'beyondthe same asshown in Figure 2.

Thisoperation isperformed on' each side,the end of each hinge pin I30being provided with any appropriate means for rotating thesame as,

for instance,-a hexagonal recess- I35.

After each of the hinge pins I30 is in the appropriatepositions indicated in Figures 2 and 3, arms ||0 are tightened on bolt Mil-clamping the lugs I |-3'-a nd I I4 together, therebydiminish- 'ingthe size-of opening ||2 and clamping the surface of opening I I2 tightly onto-the threaded surface I3 I of hinge pin I30; by this means'the hinge pin 'I30 isa-tI3I substantially integrated for current conducting purposes with the arm IIO so that an'efllcient current carryingconnection is established, the pin I30 being essentially rigid-with the arm I I0.

The"end'|40"ofhinge pin-|30 projecting into the counterbore section I02 of the reinforcement I00 is of smaller diameter than the main por- 'tion of the 'hingepinl30 and isprovided with the-annular contacting surface I42 the'said contacting surface being of a suitablesilver or silver compound alloy or sintered product adapted to make an efficient moving contact.

The'smooth section I of hinge'pin I30'is "adapted to ridein the bearing IOI of reinforce- 'mentI00 of leg IS on each side, thereby providing anefiective hinge or -rotatable arrangem nt. A sealinggasket I45 a isprovided between smoc'th s'ection I45 of pm I30 and bearing I0 I.

After the hingepins havebeen positioned in place, the substantially cylindrical member I50 secured to cup I60 is placed into the counterbore sections I02. It is here necessary to point out that cylindrical member I50 is assembled in cup I60 prior to assembly of disconnect I to make an electrical joint and a unified structure. The cylindrical member I50 has a solid copper flange II and a plurality of spring legs I52 created by and separated from each other by a plurality of slots I53 in the original cylinder.

The legs I52 since they are preferably of a spring-like contacting metal such as beryllium copper can be eflicient current carrying members while at the same time they can maintain appropriate contact pressure. Each of the legs I52 may be provided'with a silver or silver composition button I55 at the inner surface of the ends thereof which register with the annular contact section I 42 on the hinge pin I30.

Thereafter the sealing cup I60 having the recess chamber NH and the exterior threaded section I52 is screwed into position in counterbore section I02 engaging thethreads I03.

Preferably a weather-excluding gasket I is provided against which the end of the wall of cup I60 may seat so that together with gasket Ia it makes the contacts housing I00-I60 fully weatherproof and protected. The annu- 5! lar flange I5I of the cylindrical cup member .I is a tight force fit in the chamber I6I of cup I so that an efficient current carrying path is established from flange I5! to the wall of cup IE0 or other suitable'connection means.

Appropriateno-oxid or other material which will protect the contacts from corrosion may be included in the chamber I02I6I. The current path from the main disconnect contact blade from the hinge casting I0 to the frame 13 is, therefore, through each .of the arms [I0 and surfaces H2 and I3I to the hinge pin I30; then from contact surface I42 of the hinge pin to contact button I55 on the cylindrical member I50, then through flange I5I to the interior wall of cup I60, then through the threads I62 and I03 .to'reinforcing member I 00 on each of the arms I6, through the arms I0 to the frame 13 and then to the terminal 80.

Although current may flow through the meeting surfaces I45 and IN, this is not the intended current carrying path nor can the surface be designed to carry current since anappropriate good current by-pass is provided with appropriate contacting surfaces by means of the cylinder I50, contact buttons I55 and the annular surface I02. In fact, an insulating bearing of Bakelite or oil impregnated similar material may be used between meeting surfaces I45 and IN, if desired.

Thus, pigtails of any kind are avoided. The current carrying connection at the hinge is through fully enclosed weatherproofed and fully protected movable contact members.

A modified version of this invention is shown in Figure 5 where arms H0 of hinge casting I0 are clamped in a manner similar to the one described in connection with Figures 2, 3 and 4 to hinge pin 230. Hinge pin 230 is provided with two threaded extensions 23I and 250, one at each end. Threaded extension 23I engages threaded-portion I I2 of hinge casting ill to which it is clamped as previously shown. The surface ofcenter section 240 of hinge pin 230 is smooth so-that it can ride in the bearing IOI of reinforcement I00 of leg IS on each side;,thereby providing an effective hinge or rotatable arrangement.

Reinforcement I 00 is provided with a cylindrical counterbore I02 which is internally threaded at I03 to receive the sealing cup 260.

Metallic cup 260 of cylindrical section is pro.- vided at its upper end 25I with threads 252 which engage threaded surface I03 of reinforcement I00 when cup 260 is rotated with respect to reinforcement I 00 of leg 16. Reinforcement I00 is provided with a cylindrical recess 253. which serves to receive a cylindrical sealing member or gasket 254 to make the cylindrical counterbore I02 air-tight and weatherproof.

Cup 260 also has an internally threaded opening 256 which is engaged by the threaded extension 250 of pin 230. A nut 25'! threaded on extension 250 of pin 230 serves to produce a high pressure engagement of the type shown hereinafter in connection with Figure 6a between the threaded portion 256 of cup 260 and th threaded extension 250 of pin 230.

It is now evident that the current will flow (see Figures 1 and 5) from terminal through member 13 to legs 76 and thence throughthe threaded contacts I03 and 252 to the sealing cup 260, from the sealing cup 260 through threaded contacts 256 and 250 to hinge pin 230, from hinge pin 230 throughthreads 23I and H2 to hinge casting l0 and thence through blade 63 to the movable contacts 65 and finally to the stationary contacts and SI and to the other terminal 20!.

The type of contact achieved between cup 263 and member 16 is shown in Figure 6a. It is easily seen by comparing Figure 6a with Figure 6b showing a well-known annular contact that in the contact engagement shown in Figure 6a three times the contact area is available where three threads are in engagement. Hence, screw contact is more efiicient.

In the foregoing I have described my invention solely in connection with specific illustrative embodiments thereof. Since many variations and modifications of my invention will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, I prefer to be bound not by thespecific disclosures herein contained but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A switch having a frame and a movable contact arm; said contact arm being radially and axially rotatable with respect to said frame; a current carrying connection between said frame and said movable contact arm; said contact arm having two internally threaded extensions; a partly threaded current carrying pin; means securing the threaded part of said pin to said threaded extensions of said contact arm; a cylindrical recess in said frame having a partly threaded surface and a bearing coaxial to said recess; said current carrying pin rotating in said coaxial bearing; a cylindrical contact cup, said cup being externally threaded to engage the threaded surface of said cylindrical recess; a set of contact fingers, said contact fingers being connected to said contact cup, said contact fingers being biased into current carrying engagement with said current carrying pin; means sealing said current carrying connections.

2. A switch having a frame and a movable contact arm; said contact arm being radially and axially rotatable with respect to said frame; a current carrying connection between said frame and said movable contact arm; said con :amaom race. arm having I two: internallythreadediexten- -sions; "a partly 1 threaded current carrying ,pin; means securing the threaded part of saidpinto said threaded extensions of said contact arm; a cylindrical recess in'saidframe having a partly threaded'surface 'and a bearing coaxial to said recess; said current carrying pin rotating-in said "coaxialbearinga cylindrical contact 'cup; said fcup being externally threaded to'engage the threaded surface of said cylindrical recessya set of contact fingers; said contact fingers being c'on'nected to saidcontact' cup; said contact-fin- 'gersbeing biased into current carrying engagement' with said carrying pin.

3. A switch having'aframe and a movable contact arm; said contact arm being radially and-axially rotatable with respect to said frame; a current carrying connection between said frame and said movable contact arm; said corr- -tactarm having two internally threaded extensions; f a current carrying pin, said pin'having a threaded extension at each end; means securing a threaded extension of said pin to said threaded extensions of said contact arm; a cylindrical recess in said frame having a partly threaded surface and a bearing coaxial to said recess; said current carrying pin rotating in said coaxial bearing; a cylindrical contact cup; said cup being externally threaded to engage the threaded surface of said cylindrical recess; means biasing -said cup in one direction and effecting a close current carrying engagement between the threads of-said cup and of said recess; said cup also having a threaded opening, the other "threaded extension of said pin engaging said threaded opening of said cup, means biasing the said other threaded extension of said pin into current carrying engagement with said threaded "opening'of said cup; means sealing the first of said current carrying connections.

4. A current carrying connection having a fixed and a movable member, one of said members carrying a threaded current carrying pin, the other of said members having a partly threaded cylindrical recess and a bearing coaxial to said recess, said current carrying pin rotating in said coaxial bearing; a cylindrical contact cup; said cup being externally threaded to engage the threaded surface of said cylindrical recess; a set of contact fingers, said contact fingers being connected to said contact cup; said contact fingers being biased intocurrent carrying engagement with said current carrying pin.

5. A current carrying connection having a fixed and a movable'mem'ber, one of said mem- -bers carrying a threaded current carrying pin, the other of said members having a partly threaded cylindrical recess and a bearingcoaxial to saidrecess, said current carrying pin "rotating in said coaxial bearing; a cylindrical contact cup; said cup beingexternally threaded to engage the threaded surface of said cylindrical recess; a set'of contact :fingers, said contact fingers being connected to said-contact cup; said Jcontact fingers being biased into current carrying engagement with said currentcarrying pin; said cup being removable with respect to the second of said members and providing a ready means for'inspection of said contact fingers and said contact carrying pin.

6. 'A switch having a frame'and a movable contact arm; said contact arm being radially and axially rotatable with'respect to said frame; a current carrying connection between said-frame and said movable contact-arm; said contactarm having 'two internally threaded extensions; a current carrying pin, said'pin having a threaded extension at eachend; means securing athreaded extension of said pin to 'said threaded 'extensions of said contact arm; a cylindrical recess in'said frame having a partly'threaded surface and a bearingcoaxial to said recess; saidourrent carrying pin rotating in saidcoaxial hearing; acylindrical contact cup; said cup being externally threaded to engage the threadedsurface of said cylindrical recess means biasingsaid oup in one direction and'effectin'g a close current carrying engagement between the threads of said cup and of said recessfsaid'cup also havinga threaded opening,'the other threaded-extension of said pin engaging said threadedopen- 'ing'of said cup, means biasing the said other threaded extension of said pin into current carrying engagement with said threaded opening of said cup; said cup being removable with'res'p'ect to the second of said members and providing'ra ready means for inspection of said current carrying connections; means sealing'the first of said current carrying connections.

7. A current carrying connection having a'fixed and a movable member, one of said members carrying a threaded current carrying pin, 1 the other of said members having a partly threaded cylindrical recess and a bearing coaxial to said recess, said current carrying pin rotating in said coaxial bearing; a cylindrical contact cup; said cup being externally threaded to engage "the threaded surface of said cylindrical recess; a set of contact'fingers, said contact fingers beingconnected to said contactcup; said contact fingers being biased into current carrying engagement with said current carrying pin; said cup being removable with respect to the second of said -membe1's and'providing a ready meansforiinspection of said contact fingers and said contact carrying pin; means sealing and protecting said current carrying connections.

8. A current carrying connection :having a fixed and a movable member, one of said members carrying a threaded'current carrying pin, the other of said members having a partly threaded cylindrical recess and a bearing coaxial to said recess, said current carrying pin rotating in said coaxial bearing; a cylindrical contact cup; said cup being externally-threaded to engage'the threaded'surface of said cylindrical recess; a set of contact fingers, said contact fingers being connected to said contact cup; said contact'fingers being biased into current carrying engagement with said current carrying pin; said cup being removable and replaceable with respect to the second of said members and providing a ready means for inspection of said contact fingers and said contact carrying pin.

9. A" switch having a frame and a movable contact arm; said contact arm being radially and axially rotatable with respect to said frame; :a current carrying connection between said frame and said movable contact arm; said contact arm having two internally threaded extensions; --a partly threaded current carrying pin; means securing the threaded part of said pin to said threaded extensions of said-contact arm; a cylindrical recess in said frame having a partly threaded surface and a bearing'coaxial to 'said recess; said current carrying pin rotating-in said coaxial bearing; a cylindrical contact cup, said cup being externally threaded -to engage the threaded surface of saidcylindrical recess; means for electrically connecting said current carrying pin to said cylindrical contact cup.

10. A switch having a frame and a movable contact arm; said contact arm being radially and axially rotatable with respect to said frame; a current carrying connection between said frame and said movable contact arm; said contact arm having two internally threaded extensions; 2. current carrying pin, said pin having a threaded extension at each end; means securing a threaded extension of said pin to said threaded extensions of said contact arm; a cylindrical recess in said frame having a partly threaded surface and a bearing coaxial to said recess; said current carry ing pin rotating in said coaxial bearing; a cylindrical contact cup; said cup being externally threaded to engage the threaded surface of said cylindrical recess; a current carrying connection between said current carrying pin and said cylindrical contact cup.

GUSTAVE E. HEBERLEIN.

No references cited. 

